Home is the first point of safety, a foundation for the building blocks of life. The ultimate goal of housing associations like ACH is to provide secure, safe housing which is not precarious, so those at risk of homelessness can put down roots in communities and plan for their future.

We joined the Bristol Race and Housing Conference this November to join and lead important discussions around race and housing inequality, health, diversity in the housing sector and tackling race hate crime in the city.

This collection of short essays written by refugees from a variety of countries and backgrounds explores themes of identity, nationality, loss and roots.

From Ethiopia to Bosnia, the essays highlight the heterogeneity of the refugee experience. Even people fleeing the same country have vastly different journeys, practically, emotionally and spiritually.

The book gives us an opportunity to explore the concept of identity further, asking poignant questions like:

Najla has been with ACH since early 2018, after she was referred to our emergency housing by Bristol City Council. Our supported housing in Bristol offers a safe and secure place for people experiencing homelessness for many different reasons, providing a space for people to rebuild their lives.